Fireproof hollow wall construction



Jan. 5 1926. 5 1,568,155

5 I F. HEATH FIREPROOF HOLLOW WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 8. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,Zlkwwroza 2 {Z3 WQMLLA,

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F. HEATH FIRERROOF HOLLOW WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 8 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 BID 1: [15ml] D I El E1 D E] E m IP =5 f [I /0 ZNIZZNTOK 31/ J2"? JENEI/TY F. HEATH FIREPROOF HOLLOW WALL CONSTRUCTION Jan. 5 1926. 1,568,155

Filed oops, 1921 s Sheets-Sheet z;

74/ JJVVENIOJQ Patented an. 5, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK HEATH, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR T HEATH UNIT TILE COMPANY, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON, A CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON.

IIREPROOF HOLLOW WALL CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed October 8, 1921.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK HEATH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of Vashing'ton, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fireproof Hollow Wall Construction, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a system or method of protecting masonry building walls from damage by fire.

In the construction of building walls of loadbearing hollow tile character, it has heretofore been customary, when desired to provide a fireproof structure, to face the walls interiorly with some sort of a protecting means, but such methods usually leave vulnerable spots, that is unprotected areas,

which, when subjected to great heat, weaken the wall with the result that the entire wall is endangered.

The general object of this invention therefore, is to provide a protection for a masonry building wall which shall be simple,

effective, capable of being furnished and applied very cheaply in comparison to the cost of the wall, and which shall leave no vulnerable point, where the heat may weaken the wall, anywhere in the entire structure.

The invention contemplates particularly use in connection with hollow building wall construction with a view to providing a structure which shall be so completely fireproof that it shall meet with all the requiremerits of the highest type of fireproof masonary wall construction, as defined by Insurance Underwriters specifications, building ordinances, etc.

A still further object is to so construct" my wall that a complete effective insulation is provided, lining the entire wall and which may be partially or-wholly destroyed by fire without in the least impairing the load bearing qualities and characteristics of the main body of the wall. A further object is to so arrange and construct this protection for-the body of the wall that it may be completely removed and replaced after a fire at-an execeedingly small percentage Serial No. 506,234.

of the cost of a new wall and yet provide, when replaced, a wall equivalent in all'respects to the original structure.

the wall and even behind the window jambs and under lintels, over window sills, and the like, the whole forming a complete uniform system of construction, being added to the wall with a minimum of expense and providing, when completed, a very workmanlike effective masonry structure.

More specific objects of the invention include the novel means of securing such protection to the main body of the wall, and the arrangement of the fireproof supports for the ends of the floor beams, joists and other supports set into the wall at their ends.

Other objects and novel characteristics will become apparent in the following-description which relates to the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention, the essential characteristics being summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is afragmentary perspective view of the corner of a wall construction embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a detail in perspective showing a fireproof support for a floor joist; Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical transverse section through a plurality of courses of wall and protection showing the method of bonding the protection tile to the wall; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a course of a body of the wall and a pilaster construction showing the arrangement of the protection in connection therewith; Fig. 5 is a vertical section through a lintel over a window opening showing the arrangement of the protection at that point; Fig. 6 is a plan of one of the courses and a window jam'b showing the arrangement of protection for the wall around the window frame.

The main body of an exemplary hollow tile wall is illustrated in F ig. 1. I have ,in my Patent No. 1,214,149, granted Feb.

6, 1917. In this structure, each course includes hollow building blocks, providing running bonds and even horizontal mortar beds throughout the entire wall.

These courses are shown as made up of three void blocks 1 and single void blocks 2 laid alternately in successive courses in such a manner as to produce vertical alignment of webs, to accomplish a complete series of tiers of vertical load bearing members, and to develop the" full strength of horizontal mortar bed.

Such a Wall provides the ideal'characteristics of a hollow load bearing structure having many advantages from the standpoint of economy of construction, insulating characteristics, solidity of the completed structure, and other valuable features. The walls of this character, however, capable of use in high grade load bearing wall structures have a serious disadvantage if unpro-. tected, in that a fire on the interior of the building, for example, may destroy the first one or two tiers of vertical load carr ing members. That is, the application of alternate heat and cold water with resulting expansion and contraction, weakens the wall so that a fire destroys its usefulness and it must be rebuilt.

Even though the wall is largely protected, any vulnerable point might so weaken the wall so. as to allow the falling of the entire structure, or to require that it be largely or entirelyrebuilt after such a fire. In order body of the wall.

to make a complete fire proof construction of this otherwise very economical wall construction, by the use of simple and inexpensive protection, I have chosen to use blocks of the character shown at 10 to completely line the entire wall. For this purpose I may conveniently use what are known as Heath corner and jamb blocks which have been demonstrated to be commercially successful from the .nianufacturing standpoint, and

which preferably have'a vertical dimension equivalent to the height of the individual courses, and which may be divided to conveniently fit them in the corners, pilasters, jambs, and like offsets. These blocks are hollowed by voids 11' and the division is facilitated'by the narrow slot-like void 12. Such a block is more fully shown and described in my Patent No. 1,403,953 issued January 17, 1922. They may also be used for closing the corners and j ambs in the main This permits using a minimum number of sha es of blocks.

As the wall structure is built, I cover the entire interior, course by course, with these blocks 10 in the fashion shown in Fig. 1. The upper portion of the wall indicated at M in .Fig. 1, is shown, just before placing blocks of the wall and projecting between the courses of the lining blocks 10 as shown on the upper surface of the course in F 1g.

1. The effect of these strips, is an addi- I tional bonding of the protection. blocks to the main body of the wall, but, more particularly, it is to allow the removal of a section of the lining below. Such a strip may be used for example, at each floor, so that a whole story of a building which has been damaged by fire can be repaired by merely replacing this lining, for that story, with the least possible difficulty, and without disturbing the courses of lining blocks above thestrip 25 for the story above.

Such strips are placed longitudinally of the courses, in the mortar'space and project outwardly sulficiently to afford a support engaging the inner shells of the lining blocks 10.

At 20 are indicated floor beams, carrying the usual floor boar-(15.22, and which have blocks 1 to continue the support for the' mortar bed to reduce to a minimum the mterruption of a mortar bed support opposite the ends of these beams, and yet permit the beams to ,fall downwardly when burned away at the middle portion thereof Without displacing any of the blocks in the wall, or straining the same. It will be noted that the lining blocks are continued between the wall and the beams 20 which are adjacent the wall as at the right in Fig. 1.

These beam end openings through the protection lining are too small to endanger the wall. Even this may be avoided by using beam supports such as shown in Fig. 2. These supports are of metal having a carrying surface 50 braced by side pieces 51 integral with a vertical member which is also int-egral'with a wing 52 lying in the mortar bed.

The fire protection of the body of the wall is continued around openings such as tending a lining around windows and doors, as stated, to leave novulnerable point. An exam le ofv the method of accomplishing this, is illustrated at the window openin a portion of which is shown at the left 0 Fig. 1, where one of the courses extends across the window opening with a lintel construction, such for example as is illustrated in my prion Patent No. 1,244,328, October 23,1917. This lintel continues the course in which it is laced, extending over the opening at eac side thereof, and as shown consists of alternately arranged blocks 1 and 2, and filled with concrete or like substance as at 32 while rods 31 extend through the lower portion of the'voids so filled to give the beam strength.

In Fig. 5, it will be noted this lintel is shown as sectioned with the outside of the wall at the right of this figure. Below the lintels the protection is continued by the blocks 10 placed horizontally as shown. These may be supported in any convenient fashion as by short rod hooks orr wires 34 attached to; bridge like washers 35 in one case, or to strips 36 placed similarly to the strips 25 and having openings through which the sup )orting rods 34 may project. The lower en s of these rods 34 are provided withv hooks to engage in suitable voids of the blocks 10. In this figure is shown a full width block 10 and the two thirds section of such a block, one portion being broken away to fit within the width of the wall plus the lining blocks, which appear at the left of Fig. 5.

The window frame ma be fitted inside of the lining as indicatec at 40. 4L indicates the glass. An identical construction may serve to properly protect the wall at the door openings.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section showing the top of a course consisting of the blocks 1 and 2 terminating at the side of the window opening, and here the blocks serve the function of formingthe window jamb as well as projecting the wall. The blocks are shown as overlapping slightly, leaving an opening filled with a third section block set vertically. These may be suitably bonded into place by turping blocks of every other course inwardly into the wall as may be desired.

In Fig. 4, is illustrated a method of exilasters and similar offsets in the wall. 11 this figure the section consists of a lan of the course showing a wall, the wi th of one of the double blocks 1 to which the ilaster is bonded. It is shown as built 0 specially constructed pilaster blocks such as illustrated, described and claimed in my patent a plication, .No. 378,056.. At the right an the left of the figure the. blocks 10 are shown as coming up to the pilaster,

along the face of the wall and then at each side thereof are blocks turned inwardly at right angles to the wall. Along the inner side, the blocks are arranged to fit around and cover the pilastcr at each course. If desired, retaining stra s 15, may be used at frequent intervals in the pilasters cmbedding the same into the horizontal mortar beds.

In Figs. 8 to 6 inclusive, the inner side of the wall is shown as plastered, although if the tile are to present the finish as shown in Fig. 1, it is only necessary to turn the smooth side of the blocks 10 outwardly, leaving the corrugated or grooved side inwardly.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided a fireproof -wall structure, which if attacked by fire,

resists it after the manner of the highest grade fireproof structures, because .the fire must first attack the plaster if any and destroy it before affecting the blocks behind it. If no plaster is used the fire and subsequent applications of water may result in cracking the outer shells of the blocks 10. Even though part of these outer shells falls away under the alternate application of heat and water, the inner part of these shells still protects the wall. That is, space corresponding to the mortar joint behind each block 10, provides actual insulating between the )arts subjected to the tire and the load bearing tiers of the webs and shells of the wall, even where only the inner shells of the blocks 10 remain.

After such a fire, the building remains intact, because opposite the floors, etc., this protection has left no vulnerable spot where the wall is damaged and to repair the building, the only expense required is to remove the damaged lining blocks 10, and replacethem and refinish the interior. Lower rates of insurance can be obtained on such a structure. The cost ofthisproteetion to the body of the structure is a very slight initial cost and although the entire. interior of the building may be destroyed by a confiagration, the walls remain intact and need'be only relined to completely repair the wall structure of the building.

Plaster linings and blocks having additional shells intended to be cracked off by fire, have been used for fireproofing such a hollow wall, but where such protection constitutes an integral part of the blocks of the body of the wall, to repair the wall making it fireproof as it was originally intended, requires rebuildin of the dam aged portions of the wall, if not the entire structure. With my device the worst that any fire attacking the lining or protected surface can do to the wall is to destroy a part or all of the protection means, but

the body of the wall remains intact, thus retaining its full strength to carry the load, and at no time impairing or endangering the structure.

Even where plaster protections have been used, or linings of furring and the like are used in wall structures, they are not adapted to be built, with the wall structure behind floor beams, joists and partitions, and thus leave no vulnerable points which fire may attack. By this system, I am-- able to comply with various requirements of established building ordinances enacted to promote fire protection and fireproofing of building, and still permit the building of the interior of the building of 'inflammable material without. endangering the walls.

A protection for the building is afforded which is exceedingly simple and economical to construct, which is very effective in protecting the wall and it can be replaced to reline the wall at a minimum of expense, for example, two or three percent of the cost of the building.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a fireproof building structure, the combination of a main load bearing wall ponsisting of hollow tile, floors within the structure, and a fireproof lining for the wall extending past the floors and extending around the normally exposed portions of the wall at window and. door openings.

2. A fireproof building structure, the walls of which are constructed of hollow tile arranged to provide load bearing char acteristics, and having floors therein supported by the wall, and a fireproof lining for the wall extending continuously adjacent the fioors whereby vulnerable points subject to injury by fire are eliminated.

3. In a fireproof structure, the combination with load bearing hollow walls of fire resisting material and floors, carried and supported by said walls of a replaceable fire proof lining entirely-coextensive with the wall portions adjacent the floors and extending continuously with the lining for the said wall portions around the inner faces of openings such as windows and doors.

4; A fireproof structure consisting of a load bearing hollow tile wall arranged in courses, a series of courses of hollow blocks forming a fireproof lining for such wall constituting a component part of the wall structure and means extendinginto the wall for securing the lining blocks spaced apart from the wall, said lining extending past the floors of the structure.

5. A fireproof structure, consisting of a tending therethrough, and said blocks being i spaced from the ad acent shells of the blocks .of the wall, and means for securing said lining blocks to the body of the wall, and said protective lining thus formed extending continuously past the floors of the structure.

7. A fireproof wall structure, for a building consisting of hollow load bearing tile walls in which the tile are arranged in horizontal courses with the Webs and shells in vertical alignment and a protective lining comprising hollow tile each coextensive in height with the tile of each course in the load bearing portion of the wall constituting a fireproof protection.

8. A fireproof wall structure, consisting of hollow load bearing tile walls in which the tile are arranged in horizontal courses with the webs and shells in vertical alignment, a lining comprising hollow tile coextensive with each course of load bearing tile, constituting a fireproof protection, and consisting -of commensurate courses of blocks, securing elements extending into the mortar beds of the body of the wall and extending into the mortar beds of the lining, and means consisting of metal supporting strips extending parallel with certain of the courses in the wall, and spaced at ver-" tical intervals and projecting into the horizontal mortar space of the lining courses, permitting the removal and replacement of the sections above or below such supports without disturbing the adjacent sections.

9. A fireproof structure, in which the main body of the wali consists of hollow tile arranged in horizontal. courses and a fireproof protection for said wall consisting of a lining consisting of voided blocks, each having a height equivalent to a course and co-extensive with each complete course, and means bonding said lining to the wall with the lining blocks spaced from the wall consisting of elements embedded in mortar and extending from the body of the wall into the joint between the lining blocks.

10. A fireproof structure, in which the main body of the wallconsists of hollow tile arranged in courses, and a fireproof protection for said wall consisting of a lining of voided blocks, each having a height equivalent to a course and arranged to be co-extensive with each course, and means bonding said lining to the wall with the lining blocks spaced from the wall consisting of elements embedded in mortar and extending from the body of the wall into the joints between the lining blocks, said blocks being divisible into the elements to facilitate fitting into the offsets, corners, and jambs of the wall, and the entire lining being adapted to be removed and replaced without disturbing the load bearing characteristics of the wall.

11. A fireproof structure, in which the main body of the wall consists of hollow tile arranged in horizontal courses, and a fireproof protection for said wall consisting of a lining consisting of voided blocks,

each having a height equivalent to a course,

said blocks being divisible into the elements to facilitate fitting into the offsets, and the entire lining being adapted to be removed and replaced without disturbingthe load bearing characteristics of the wall, said lining extending around the window and door openings, and means by which the blocks are supported under arches and lintels, consisting of upright connections extending up to and engaging the Wall course or lintel above.

12. A fireproof Wall structure, for a building, consisting of hollow load bearing tile walls in which the tile are arranged in horizontal courses, a protective lining of courses of hollow blocks arranged to be coextensive with each course of the tile in the wall and constituting a fireproof protection therefore, and consisting of commensurate courses of blocks having a height such as to permit securing to the wall at the mortar beds of the body of the Wall, metal supporting strips extending parallel With certain of the courses in the wall and spaced at vertical intervals and projecting into the horizontal mortar space of the lining courses to support lining courses above. permitting the removal and replacement of the sections above or below such supports without disturbing the adjacentsections.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

' FREDERICK HEATH. 

